Student Media

College Scorecard

Among the initiatives announced in the Feb. 12 State of the Union Address is the College Scorecard, President Barack Obama's tool for helping American families choose a college based on affordability.

Launched Feb. 13, the College Scorecard scores St. Cloud State as a highly affordable university:

COSTS

Costs are "low" on a low-medium-high scale. The tool says: "The average net price for undergraduate in-state students is $11,344 per year. The average net price has decreased 0.7 percent from 2007 to 2009."

MEDIAN BORROWING

The typical amount borrowed by a St. Cloud State student is "low" on a low-medium-high scale. "Families typically borrow $13,551 in Federal loans for a student’s undergraduate
study. The Federal loan payment over 10 years for this amount is approximately
$155.95 per month."

LOAN DEFAULT RATE

St. Cloud State's loan default rate is 5.5 percent within three years of entering repayment. That compares to a national loan default average of 13.4 percent.

GRADUATION RATE

The tool rates St. Cloud State "medium" on a low-medium-high scale. About 48.5 percent of full-time students received their bachelor’s degree within six years. About
33.3 percent transferred to another institution.

Visitors
to the White House website can use the College Scorecard to determine if St. Cloud State has
the right enrollment size, campus setting and desired programs.

"So tonight, I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that
affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive
certain types of federal aid. And tomorrow, my administration will
release a new “College Scorecard” that parents and students can use to compare
schools based on a simple criteria -- where you can get the most bang for your
educational buck."